IMPOUNDMENT, SURRENDER, REDEMPTION AND ADOPTION

Jacksonville Ordinance Code tit. XIII, ch. 462, pt. 6

in effect

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 462.601 Impounding of animals.

Sec. 462.601. - Impounding of animals. (a) An animal control officer is authorized to capture and impound, in a place maintained or designated for that purpose, any animal that is stray, at-large or as otherwise authorized by this Chapter. (b) Holding periods established: (1) ACPS shall shelter and care for impounded potentially owned, adult dogs and cats, whether tagged or stray, for five days, beginning the day of capture (intake), and excluding official holidays recognized by the City or when the shelter is otherwise closed to the public due to an unexpected event. (2) Litters of puppies and kittens estimated to be less than six months of age, as determined by the emergence of adult canine teeth, without an actively nursing mother shall have no required holding period for placement. For this Section a "litter" shall be considered two or more animals of apparently the same age and breed/mix. (3) The City shall establish a program for the handling and disposition of feral animals with no requirement for a holding period before disposition. All dogs and cats that are so unsocialized as to pose a threat to the safety and welfare of employees or the public shall be expeditiously and humanely euthanized (excluding any cat that qualifies for a community cat management program established by the City). (4) Due to the low reclaim rate and high euthanasia rate for cats, all cats that do not have positive, traceable identification through a currently registered microchip (RFID), City pet tag, or private identification tag (although still subject to the holding period established above) may be sterilized immediately upon intake and placed in the adoption area as soon as two days after impound. (c) ACPS shall not be required to shelter and care for any feral, wild, or exotic animals. (d) ACPS shall not be required to shelter or care for any animal that is severely injured, has a contagious disease or is deemed by ACPS as a danger to the community or an undue risk to employees of ACPS unless such animal has a currently registered microchip or ownership information in the form of City pet tag or private identification tag on the animal. All animals without such positive, traceable identification that meet the previous criteria shall be expeditiously and humanely euthanized. (Ord. 2004-259-E, § 1; Ord. 2008-299-E, § 1; Ord. 2010-527-E, § 7; Ord. 2025-811-E, § 4)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 462.602 Notice to owner of impoundment.

Sec. 462.602. - Notice to owner of impoundment. Upon impounding an animal that is licensed, tagged, or otherwise identifiable through microchip or tattoo, ACPS shall promptly notify the owner by telephone or mail unless the owner has been informed directly or via note left on property/residence by an officer or employee of ACPS. Such notice shall advise the owner of the period for impoundment. ACPS, at its discretion, may make a reasonable inquiry in the immediate vicinity in which a stray animal is picked up in order to locate the owner, if any, of a stray animal. (Ord. 2004-259-E, § 1; Ord. 2010-527-E, § 7)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 462.603 Redemption by owner.

Sec. 462.603. - Redemption by owner. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Chapter, the owner of any impounded animal may redeem the animal, upon payment to the City of the following: (1) An intake fee for each animal redeemed; (2) A boarding fee per animal, per day; (3) All outstanding fines and final judgments, except for any fine of which a timely appeal is pending; (4) All veterinary charges, drug and other medical expenses; (5) The cost of sterilization or a sterilization deposit, as applicable; (6) The cost of an implanted and registered radio frequency identification device (RFID)(microchip), rabies vaccinations, if applicable; and (7) The cost of license and registration, if applicable. At the request of the owner, ACPS shall provide an itemized list of charges. (b) The Chief of ACPS shall establish a fee schedule, which may be amended from time to time, and which will be on file with the Legislative Services Division. (Ord. 2004-259-E, § 1; Ord. 2010-527-E, § 7)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 462.604 Voluntary surrender by owner.

Sec. 462.604. - Voluntary surrender by owner. (a) Every owner who voluntarily surrenders an animal must provide photo identification and sign a form acknowledging that the surrender is voluntary and acknowledging the discretion of ACPS to dispose of the animal. ACPS shall not be liable for the disposition of any voluntarily surrendered animal after receipt of the animal from its owner. The animal shall be immediately available for adoption, placement or other appropriate disposition once surrendered. (b) Owners surrendering animals shall be responsible for paying an intake fee, and should the animal(s) not be current on vaccination required by the City, rabies vaccination fees shall also be paid by the owner wishing to surrender his/her animal(s). (c) Owners wishing to surrender an animal with the request for euthanasia shall be allowed to do so at the discretion of ACPS. It is not the policy or practice of ACPS to supply "on-demand" euthanasia procedures, but in the interest of relieving a suffering animal, ACPS may provide the service for a fee or at no charge, at its sole discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such fees shall not apply to any animal surrendered to ACPS by a licensed veterinarian or boarding kennel pursuant to F.S. § 705.19. (d) No owner surrendered or stray animals from outside the ACPS jurisdiction shall be accepted except for humane reasons; such animals shall be referred to another agency. The photo identification of the owner/person wishing to surrender an animal that shows an address outside of ACPS jurisdiction shall be used as the origin of the animal. If an animal is accepted for humane reasons from an owner or person living outside of ACPS' jurisdiction, a fee equal to the average cost(s) of all services provided shall be charged. (Ord. 2004-259-E, § 1; Ord. 2008-299-E, § 2; Ord. 2010-527-E, § 7)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 462.605 Adoption.

Sec. 462.605. - Adoption. (a) A person adopting an animal from ACPS shall pay an adoption fee, which shall include the cost of sterilization or a $500 deposit, in accordance with Section 462.608. In addition to the adoption fee, the adopter shall pay the cost of license and registration. (b) The Chief of ACPS shall establish an adoption fee schedule, which may be amended from time to time, and which will be on file with the Legislative Services Division. (c) The Chief of ACPS is authorized to execute animal adoption agreements, on behalf of the City, in a form approved by the Office of General Counsel. (Ord. 2004-259-E, § 1; Ord. 2010-527-E, § 7)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 462.606 Proper identification and address verification.

Sec. 462.606. - Proper identification and address verification. In order to redeem or adopt an animal, a person must be at least 18 years of age, provide photo identification and a recent utility bill or other proof of legitimate residency. ACPS may require verification of the address prior to adoption or redemption. If the person attempting to redeem or adopt an animal is using the address of another person, that person must cosign and consent to housing the animal at that address; verbal approval by a landlord or rental agent may be accepted in lieu of co-signature for apartments or lease arrangements that allow pets. ACPS may require that fees and costs associated with redeeming or adopting be paid only in cash or by certified check payable to the City. (Ord. 2004-259-E, § 1; Ord. 2010-527-E, § 7)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 462.607 Rabies vaccination required.

Sec. 462.607. - Rabies vaccination required. All dogs, cats and ferrets must have current rabies vaccinations, in accordance with Section 462.502 and in accordance with F.S. § 828.30, in order to be redeemed or adopted. This requirement may only be waived if the owner can produce to ACPS a rabies vaccination certificate from a veterinarian and any other information necessary in order for ACPS to determine that the animal has a current vaccination. (Ord. 2004-259-E, § 1; Ord. 2010-527-E, § 7)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 462.608 Sterilization.

Sec. 462.608. - Sterilization. Except as otherwise provided in this Part, all dogs and cats redeemed or adopted from ACPS shall be sterilized by a veterinarian before redemption or adoption, except when a veterinarian determines that sterilization would endanger the animal's health due to its age, infirmity, disability or illness. In such case, the owner or adopter shall sign a written agreement that sterilization shall be performed as soon as health permits, and in the case of kittens and puppies, by eight weeks of age. In addition, if, at the discretion of ACPS, the owner or adopter chooses to have another veterinarian perform the sterilization, he or she shall pay a deposit in the amount of $500 to ACPS as a condition of the agreement to sterilize, which deposit shall be refundable upon presenting to ACPS signed, written verification on letterhead with the veterinarian's license number noted by the veterinarian who performed the sterilization that the animal has been sterilized within 30 days of redemption or adoption. If the owner cannot afford the deposit and can make arrangements for the immediate sterilization of the pet through a veterinarian of their choice within Duval County, ACPS will transport or may arrange transportation for the animal directly to the veterinary clinic where it will remain until it is sterilized. Deposits shall be forfeited on the thirty-first day if proper verification of sterilization or a confirmable appointment for sterilization is not provided, or ten days following the scheduled appointment if proof of sterilization is not provided, and the funds shall be deposited in the Spay Neuter Trust Fund to be used for sterilization of pets. Animal owners that have a current City license and permanent identification in the form of a registered microchip ID (RFID) or attached City license tag, shall be exempt from the above provision regarding sterilization for the first impound of the animal provided the identification is accurate to allow ACPS to identify its owner. Other valid permanent identification may also be used provided ACPS can easily identify the owner and a current City license is on file with the owner's information. Determination of the first impound shall be based upon the available records of ACPS. In addition to the one-time exemption provided at no additional charge, an owner can request the release of the animal one additional time upon payment of a fee of $500, to be deposited in the Spay and Neuter Trust Fund; however, any future impound/intake of the same animal shall result in sterilization before reclaim. For the purposes of controlling pet overpopulation and ensuring all animals redeemed or adopted from ACPS are sterilized in an expeditious manner, the City of Jacksonville shall be considered the legal owner of: all stray dogs that remain in the shelter three days after intake/impound (i.e. on the fourth day sterilization may take place) unless positive, traceable ownership may be indicated by a registered microchip, City tag or private id tag; and, all stray cats upon intake/impound unless positive, traceable ownership may be indicated by a registered microchip, City tag, other form of traceable permanent identification, or private identification tag. ACPS is hereby authorized to perform sterilization procedures on any animal anytime after it becomes City property. Such ownership provisions shall not affect the holding periods established in Section 462.601. (Ord. 2004-259-E, § 1; Ord. 2010-527-E, § 7)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 462.609 Conditions preventing redemption or adoption.

Sec. 462.609. - Conditions preventing redemption or adoption. (a) No animal that has been in recent contact with a rabid animal may be redeemed or adopted until the animal has been held for the prescribed period of observation. (b) No animal that is infected with, or is suspected of being infected with, any dangerous disease that is communicable to humans or other animals including, but not limited to, rabies, distemper, and parvo virus, as determined by a veterinarian, may be redeemed or adopted, and shall be expeditiously and humanely euthanized. (c) No dog previously classified as a dangerous dog may be redeemed pending any hearing requested by the owner to stop a destruction order, nor adopted; and no animal that is considered by ACPS to be highly aggressive and a danger to the community even if not previously classified as dangerous may be adopted. Such animals shall be expeditiously and humanely euthanized after any requested hearing or within ten business days if no notice of hearing request is received. (d) No animal prohibited by law from being kept as a household pet may be redeemed or adopted. (e) At the discretion of ACPS, an animal that is not subject to adoption or redemption may be medically treated and placed with a facility or agency equipped for care of such animal, or the animal may be humanely destroyed. (Ord. 2004-259-E, § 1; Ord. 2010-527-E, § 7)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 462.610 Disposition of unredeemed and surrendered dogs and cats.

Sec. 462.610. - Disposition of unredeemed and surrendered dogs and cats. ACPS, at its discretion, may adopt, medically treat and/or place with an appropriate facility or agency equipped for care of such animals, or humanely dispose of any impounded animal that is not redeemed by the owner, if any, after the time period provided in Section 462.601, and any animal that is voluntarily surrendered. No live unredeemed animal or voluntarily surrendered animal may be disposed of by selling or giving such animal to any person or entity for the purpose of using the animal for experimentation, for medical or other research, or for food or other commercial processing. Animals may be placed with foster homes to provide shelter for animals requiring extended care in order that they may become adoptable. (Ord. 2004-259-E, § 1; Ord. 2010-527-E, § 7)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 462.611 Reserved.

Source: City of Jacksonville, Ordinance Code and Charter and Related Laws (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/fl/jacksonville/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITXIIIHECO_CH462AN_PT6IMSUREADFetched: 10/27/2026